-Speech by Professor Louis Richardson, the current president, at the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the founding of the school. St Andrews University was founded in 14 10. Some Augustine clergy who fled from Paris University and Oxford and Cambridge because of the Anglo-Scottish War set up higher education institutions in this seaside town, mainly teaching theology, logic, religion and other courses. On August 28th, 2003, the Bishop of St Andrews, Henry Vaudeleau, who presided over the clergy, asked Pope Benedict XIII to officially issue the papal edict of St Andrews University, which marked the birth of St Andrews University after 600 years of storms. After 1532, james v of scotland, King of Scotland, also gave support to the University of St Andrews by awarding the Charter of the Royal University.
At the beginning of the school, Robert of montrose and Lawrence of Lindel established St. John's College to teach theology and humanities in 14 18; St Salvato College was founded by Bishop James Kennedy in 1450.
Settings; St Leonard's College was founded by Archbishop Alexander Stewart in 15 1 1 year. 1538, St. John's College was renamed St. Mary's College from Cardinal James Beaton to encourage the study of traditional Catholic teachings and oppose the rise of Protestantism. However, after 1560, the Scottish Parliament abolished the authority and jurisdiction of the Pope, and St. Mary's College became a teaching institution for cultivating Protestants. Up to now, many buildings left over at that time are still in use, such as St. Salvato's Church, St. Leonard's College Chapel and the courtyard of St. Mary's College.
As an authoritative symbol of an ancient university, St Andrews University also has three medieval scepters, which can be traced back to15th century. They often appear in some special solemn occasions, such as the graduation ceremony of students, and are also the emotional bond of countless students who graduated here, because generations of graduates stand in front of them silently and complete their life changes at the ceremony.
For example, the scepter of the Faculty of Arts is the oldest scepter. Initially, it was manufactured in 14 16 1, and it was completed in 14 18 about two years later. It is made of silver and partially gilded with religious figures such as St. Michael and St. Andrew, as well as figures such as the King of Scotland and the Earl of Douglas. During the period from17th century to18th century, the University of St Andrews was deeply influenced by civil and religious unrest, which affected the normal teaching order. With the decreasing number of students and overwhelming economic pressure, St. Salvato College and St. Leonard College merged into one on June 24th, 1747, becoming a new joint college. The former site of St. Salvato College became the new site of the Union College, while St. Leonard College was used as the main teaching building until 1757 North Street Union College was completed. /kloc-in the 1970s of 0/8, most of the original buildings of St. Leonard's College were demolished, and only the chapel remained.
During this period, the University of St Andrews is still shrouded in a difficult development dilemma. When Samuel samuel johnson visited the school on 1773, he felt that the school was slowly decaying and even struggling to survive. During this period, because of the weak national strength, Scotland's financial support for schools became less and less, and the daily expenses of schools were even more unsustainable.
/kloc-in the second half of the 0/9th century, St. Andrews University, as a pioneer of new thoughts, opened higher education to women. In resolution 1876, according to the conditions of LLA (female literature and art), the university Council decided that women have the right to obtain higher education opportunities from universities. On April 2nd, 1892, the Academic Council of the University officially accepted female students as members of the school. Twenty women were registered as students of St Andrews University in the academic year of 1892~ 1893. The admission of female students directly promoted the school to become the first school in Scotland to provide accommodation services for female students. In order to adapt to the development of modernization, increase the number of students and reduce the economic burden, 1897, under the impetus of many higher education people, some disciplines in university of dundee were merged by St. Andrews University.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the courses of classical language, theology and philosophy offered by St Andrews University on the basis of traditional higher education were well received. At the same time, with the progress of the times, the school also followed the trend and began to offer popular courses in other universities in Britain, such as science and engineering and medicine. Because the Stuart dynasty was closely related to the school in the15th century, the relationship between the school and the royal family was also closer. The Duchess of York, the mother of the current Queen of England, has visited the school many times. When Dundee College was rebuilt in 1953, Queen's College was named after her. An interesting fact is that the Youngor Auditorium, where the Duchess of York received an honorary doctorate in law at 1929, is where her great-grandson Prince William received his master's degree 75 years later. With the attendance of many members of the royal family, the relationship between St. Andrews University and the royal family is even longer.
The revival of St Andrews University appeared in the second half of the 20th century, and it became an ideal place for more and more Scottish upper class to choose higher education for their children. Since then, the enrollment of the university has increased dramatically, and this grand occasion has continued to this day.
Nevertheless, the development of St Andrews University is still full of ups and downs. Dundee College 1967 is independent, which makes the school lack of disciplines such as law, accounting and dentistry. However, in 1972, St. Leonard's College was reorganized into a graduate school, which injected new vitality into this ancient and stormy university.
After 600 years of hard work, St Andrews University can proudly be called "the first university in Scotland". Founded in15th century, it took nearly six centuries to establish a good academic reputation and become one of the unique teaching and research institutions in Britain, Europe and North America.